This morning was the annual medlar picking from the tree of friend Kaye at Austins Ferry. It's a tradition of more than two decades now. Very few remained on the tree as is customary. Instead they had mostly fallen to the ground forming a carpet of the beautiful golden orbs. They now will be bletted … Continue reading Medlar Season

I do like a good cake tin, especially when purchased at an op shop for a tiny price. I've wanted to make madeleines ever since I saw Elizabeth Godfrey make them on tv decades ago (now that lets on my age) - I admired her tremendously. I managed to purchase one madeleine tin a few … Continue reading Beehive Cakes and Madeleines

Golden days of Autumn, and speaking of trees - picking apples in the Derwent Valley today.

From my kitchen window. I love this tree, an elm I think. Its foliage provides cool shade in the summer and come autumn, it puts on a magnificent display of falling leaves. Once the branches are bare, the winter sun can fill and warm the kitchen. It's the perfect tree. From the other kitchen, a … Continue reading The Magnificent Elm

More quinces on the agenda today. Friends Michael and Roberto also came to preserve their harvest of quinces and apples. Another friend very kindly lent us their electric preserving unit so we were up to a full complement of three. Preserving alone is productive and rewarding, but preserving with friends is the best fun. The … Continue reading The Quince-a-thon continues…

I was given some beautiful persimmons by an Italian friend a couple of days ago. With some of them I baked a honey caramel persimmon cake. Such a delicious fruit! (Incidentally, the recipe comes from "The Comfort Bake", to be precise a twist on the Honey Caramel Topsy Turvy Pear Cake on page 56. I … Continue reading A Gift of Persimmons

The dish of the moment - Coronation Quiche. I was asked this week to trial the recipe (by ABC Sydney Evening with Indira Naidoo) to see how it performed. I was sent this link: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/apr/17/king-charles-camilla-coronation-quiche-signature-dish The recipe comes from King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla in conjunction with royal chef and recipe's inventor Mark Flanagan. … Continue reading Coronation quiche test run

In response to many requests since the post about quinces, here are the recipes for the above-mentioned. Quince and Apple Shortcake Ingredients For the pastry 250g very soft salted butter 250g sugar 2 eggs 250g plain flour 250g self raising flour 1 egg white, lightly whisked 1.5kg stewed quince and apple (see note), cooled For … Continue reading Quince and Apple Shortcake and Quince Barbecue Sauce – recipes!

Off to the "doctor's" for a checkup today (the preservers that is). Only one of them is actually ailing, the one on the left. After 35 years of its being overworked and underpaid it's hardly surprising. The plug that goes into the unit seems to have a little problem. The other two have been in … Continue reading The Preservers get a checkup

. When I was asked to research the topic of Anzac biscuits (by ABC Sydney Evenings), I had no real concept of how intriguing their history was, how evocative the memories surrounding them, and what they represent to this day. It is a biscuit that was created out of love, care and necessity in the … Continue reading Anzac Biscuits – recipe!